A new report released by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the Smart Electric Power Alliance (SEPA) lays out three basic business models — third party, utility and hybrid — now driving growth in the microgrid market. The report, “Microgrids: Expanding Applications, Implementations, and Business Structures,” also details key opportunities and barriers to ongoing expansion in the sector.
As defined in the report, a microgrid is any small-scale, localized power system with its own generation resources, loads and definable boundaries that can disconnect from the grid for short periods during grid outages. Often incorporating renewable energy and storage, these systems can transport, distribute and regulate the supply of electricity to customers.
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